WOD's & News

Monthly Archives: February 2013

March challenge: cut down the clutter

This month, I challenge you to cut down on stuff... clutter... junk. Whether it be virtual clutter in the form of an overflowing email inbox, or just cleaning out your closet, let's cut down on clutter in our lives. You'd be surprised what peace of mind it gives you to simplify your life. I just sorted/deleted/archived and have almost conquered my email inbox (100 more in the archives to sort) and the past week has been much more productive because of it.
See if you can get rid of something every day this month. What will you tackle first?

Bring-a-Friend Days next week

Every quarter, we invite your friends to join us for three special days of workouts planned specially to give everyone of every fitness level a great workout. It's a chance for your friends to see what the CrossFit fuss is all about!
Next Thursday, Friday & Saturday (3/7-3/9), we're ready to host 20 students per class (14 CFM students & 6 guests). Please help spread the word!
Guests can reserve a space in class by emailing FRIENDS@crossfitmidtown.com. We'll email back to confirm which class they can join.
Along with kicking off our first CrossFit Open ever, with WOD 13.1 next Saturday at noon, AND the Olympic Lifting seminar next Sunday, it's bound to be an amazing weekend. Don't miss it!

CROSSFIT OPEN ATHLETE COUNT: 22!

To any of your friends doubting they can do CrossFit, show them this picture of my 67-year-old mother doing yesterday's WOD. With a positive attitude, ANYONE, of any age, ability, fitness level, etc, can do CrossFit. We will scale next week's workouts as necessary for our guests.

Workout of the Day (WOD) - BENCHMARK FRIDAY!

"Angie"
For time:
100 pull ups
100 push ups
100 sit ups
100 squats

Rx: do all reps of one movement before moving on. Beginners: COACHES WILL HELP YOU SCALE REPS & MOVEMENTS!

And coming tomorrow...Team workout:

In teams of 3:
60sec of single unders (EVEN IF YOU CAN DOUBLE...do faster singles)
60sec of kb swings
60sec of sit-ups
alternate movements
x12 total min

Team score= total reps of all singles, swings and sit-ups done by everyone

Facing Fears

by Uran
In addition to my effort to find balance in my life this year, I’m also trying to face more of my fears.
Last week, I went indoor rock climbing. Now, I’m not afraid of heights per se, but the idea of hanging on that artificial rock face has always made me really nervous. In spite of that, I still really wanted to try it, so I put on my big girl harness and showed up.
I’m really glad I did. It was downright terrifying, and I didn’t make it all the way to the top of the wall on any of my attempts, but I did get up there. For me, that’s all that mattered. It was a huge step, and it gave me the confidence to try it again sometime.
I’ve also signed up for the Olympic Weightlifting Seminar to get over my intimidation of going heavy on snatch, and I’m planning to take swim lessons (again) this summer to get over my crippling fear of water.
Is there anything you want to do, but are too scared or intimidated to try?
Maybe it's the Crossfit Open? I’ve heard a lot of concerns about not being able to do all the workouts Rx'ed (Rx is CrossFit-speak for as prescribed, or as written/without modifications).
That’s ok! I’m certainly not going to be doing everything as prescribed, but I know I can still get a score (aka do as many reps as possible Rx) and then do the rest of my workout scaled. Plus, you get the opportunity to compete alongside your friends and coaches in a supportive and encouraging environment. All for the low low price of $20!
If you’ve been considering doing something that scares you, don’t let your fear of trying hold you back.

Note from Lis: Uran's post reminded me of this awesome and very short (and FREE!) ebook I read once called THE FLINCH:
"The idea is simple: your flinch mechanism can save your life. It short-circuits the conscious mind and allows you to pull back and avoid danger faster than you can even imagine it’s there. But what if danger is exactly what you need? What if facing the flinch is the one best way to get what you want?"
Check it out.

Healthy Choice is not a healthy choice

I used to think it was. Throughout my 20s, my freezer was regularly stocked with "healthy" frozen meals like Healthy Choice, Smart Ones, Lean Cuisine, and Lean Pockets. Have you ever read the ingredients in these "food-ish" items? I say food-ish because this stuff only resembles food. There's hardly any actual REAL, WHOLE food in those meals.
So I was shocked when a CFM student told me this week that he'd like to lose some belly fat, but has been eating well and is still stalling. After asking a few questions, I discovered that his version of "eating well" was stocking the freezer each week with those convenient frozen meals featuring clever marketing & labeling, designed to make you THINK you're eating well.
I tell everyone who does an intro session at CFM that we offer basic paleo nutrition counseling (email us to take advantage!) by reviewing a food log for you once a month. I also emphasize that I don't expect everyone to embrace both the CrossFit AND Paleo lifestyles all at once. CrossFit is intimidating enough. Eventually though, you'll need to make some dietary adjustments to see the phenomenal results you want. Not to mention, you will also FEEL & PERFORM better (during WODs and during LIFE).
So start by eating REAL FOOD. Read labels. If you can't pronounce, have never heard of, or are disgusted by something you read, DON'T EAT IT!
And if you're not a great cook, or prefer the convenience of those foodish freezer meals mentioned above, why not invest in a few weeks of a paleo meal delivery service?

Edesia Meals is a new company run by trained chef AND CrossFit coach AND good friend of CFM, Veronica Case. Her meals range from $10-12 each, you can order a la carte (10% discount for orders over $55) AND they are delicious. She brought me a sample today of a Middle Eastern-style turkey burger with a spicy tomato jam that was the FREAKING BOMB. Get your orders in Sunday for Tuesday delivery to CFM.

Urban Pl8 is a restaurant on the Westside that offers 3- & 5-day meal plans for about $8-10 per meal. Orders are due by Sunday at 5 for delivery to CFM the next day (Monday).

AND, my friends (and ELITE CrossFit athletes) Amber & Emily have teamed up with Whole Foods (Ponce location only) for a Paleo meal service. It costs $120 for five days of food. You pick up at Whole Foods twice a week (first on Sun night/Mon morning, then again Wed night/Thurs morning). Order by Friday at noon for the following week.
If you try one out, please let us know what you think!

CFM has 16 athletes in the Open already!

So why is this a big deal? Because a year ago, no one had ever heard of CrossFit Midtown. We weren't open yet. We were still looking for a gym space in Midtown, HOPING this neighborhood would become our home. And look at us now! We have an amazing community of athletes who are working hard and improving in the gym EVERY DAY.
And now, our first Games season is upon us. Will we send athletes to the CrossFit Games in July? As competitors? Probably not. As spectators? Absolutely.
So why, if we don't have any big contenders to make it all the way to the Games, should you front the $20 to participate in the Open? Because you'll get to join the fun every Saturday at noon throughout the Open, to compete alongside your gym-mates. And just think, in a few years when we ARE sending athletes to Regionals... and the Games... you can say you competed in that first Open here at CFM.
Can I tell you a secret? Last month, I said I wasn't doing the Open. I haven't trained consistently since CFM opened, and I can be really hard on myself during workouts. So I'd only be setting myself up for frustration and disappointment.
And then it dawned on me. WHO CARES how well I do on the Open WODs? I'm not going to win the Open (unless it's all made up of silly warm-up moves, sarcasm and heavy squats). But I AM going to enjoy the atmosphere of TEAM CFM's first Open. I AM going to have a blast competing alongside Shay & Adam & Amanda & Matt/REX & Tiernan & Jason L & D Cap & Lee M & Uran & Dyer & Vabs & Arielle & Ellen & Chris H & Beefy Levy ... and who else??? Let's get 30+ athletes on the team!
And oh, if you're still undecided, perhaps a lil T-SHIRT DISCOUNT can convince you? They're putting finishing touches on the design now, but I will tell you there is a pterodactyl. And a barbell. And a quote from the very wise Lynn R: GIVE THE CROWD WHAT THEY WANT! Preview coming soon.
The Open starts in nine days. Get in on the action.
And if you can't make the Saturday noon Open WODs, we'll offer an alternate time (IF scheduled w Lis ahead of time!).

Saturday AM fun w Vabs, Chuck, Dozier, Amanda & Calin.

Rowing class with Uran tonight at 7!

Class is limited to five students, so RSVP online to ensure you get a spot!
Tonight's workout: 6 x 4:00 segments of rowing for meters. Recovery row (light pressure) 2:00 between each segment.

Two weeks away from three big events!

The weekend of March 7-10th will be a busy one at CFM. Please participate however you can - Bring-A-Friend Days, the FIRST Open WOD, and the Olympic Lifting Seminar are all coming up!March 7 8 & 9 Bring-A-Friend Days: Share CFM with your friends on March 7, 8 & 9. All our classes are open to guests (RSVP required by emailing FRIENDS@crossfitmidtown.com. CFM students: don't fret! We still have 14 spots in each class reserved for you! Get all the details here.March 9 the CF OPEN begins! Kick off CFM's first Games season with the first CrossFit Open workout, Saturday, March 9 at 12noon. Register now! If you're unable to commit to every Saturday, we'll also be scheduling makeup WODs (so don't let that scare you off!).March 10 Olympic Lifting Seminar: Travis Cooper teaches a six-hour seminar (9a-4p with an hour break for lunch) to teach us the finer points of the snatch and clean & jerk. Register now! This seminar is limited to 24 athletes. Athletes and coaches of all levels will benefit from this course. Visit the FB event page for the seminar timeline and more info about Travis.

How's your February going?

Yes, it's almost the end of the month. But this is not the time to write February off and begin planning for your awesome March/Spring.
YES, we're all looking forward to Spring. I'm writing this from New Orleans where the high is 70 today. HOORAY SPRING! So YES, begin planning for March. But ALSO take the last seven days of February to CRUSH THIS MONTH!
Goals not going the way you'd planned? What can you do in seven days to change that? Plenty.
Did you hope to train more or eat better or save more this month? Well you've still got a week. Get to the gym. Cook some healthy meals. Save a few bucks.
Or are you already CRUSHING your goals this month? Sweet. Don't derail now. Be extraordinary.
Make this your best month ever. And then make March even better. 🙂

Are you succeeding at the THINK POSITIVE February challenge? Post in the comments with any tools that have helped you be positive this month.

Practice Practice Practice

By Uran

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
-Aristotle

This is not new information, but it bears repeating: practice makes perfect.

More often than not, you’re not instantly great at something the first time you try it. When you tried your first Olympic lift, rope climb, or pull up, it probably needed some work. Hell, when you first learned to walk, you probably fell down a lot. As a toddler, there was no question of getting back up to try, try, again until you mastered it.

But in the adult world of emotions, egos, and competition, not being awesome at something can seem a lot more daunting. In the gym, it can even lead to something called “cherry picking”, where you start looking at the programming and avoiding the stuff you’re worst at. I’m not judging. I’ve done it before, too.

Deep down, we all know that without practice we won’t get any better at the skills we struggle to perform. So why let the fear of “screwing up” hold you back? Why not channel your inner toddler and decide that continuing to try is a given? You might be surprised what a shift in your attitude can do for your training.

Don't take on this attitude. Give your all as you PRACTICE your CrossFit skills every day, and you will improve. Don't just save it for testing days (or games, like our boy AI here).